Daily fantasy sports (DFS) and sports betting operator DraftKings Sports NJ is one of the top online sports betting sites in the rapidly growing regulated US markets. While the brand may be most well-known for its sports-related offerings, DraftKings also offers players the unique opportunity to wager on other non-sporting events as well.
One such event is the penultimate film industry event, the Academy Awards, also commonly known as the Oscars. For many years, European betting sites provided odds for the annual film industry competition in Los Angeles. In 2019, NJ became the first US state to offer legal betting on the Oscars, giving New Jerseyans — who could already bet on nearly every sports category on DraftKings and other NJ sportsbooks — the chance to finally wager on the US’s most prestigious film awards.
Since then, the company has continued to grow and expand into further regulated states, establishing itself among the industry giants. As regulated online gambling and sports betting has expanded throughout the country in recent years, more US states also legalized betting on the Oscars. By the time the 2021 Oscars took place, movie buffs in four states — Michigan, Colorado, Indiana, and New Jersey — could legally wager on their top picks for categories like “Best Supporting Actress” via regulated and licensed platforms within state borders.
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Awards season is nigh and the 2022 Academy Awards are just six weeks away. As Sunday, March 27th gets ever closer, US books are open for legal Oscar wagers and the DraftKings Nation blog has provided odds for the four most pivotal categories.
Keep in mind, that this is a very volatile betting market as breaking news in the film industry can swing the favor in the blink of an eye.
There are also plenty of interesting and unique prop bets you certainly will not find anywhere else. Wagers are available for almost everything that happens once the opulent and glamorous Hollywood elite make it past the red carpet. Swearing during the acceptance speeches, announcers mixing up the winners, or stars tripping on their way up to the stage are just some of the unusual wagers to look out for.
Here are the four top categories to wager on for the 94th Academy Awards on March 27, 2022:
2022 Oscar Nominees: Best Actor
Last year, acting legend Sir Anthony Hopkins took home the Best Actor for his performance in The Father at the tender age of 83. Another iconic actor may follow in his footsteps as Will Smith is the clear betting favorite this year. He played tennis pros Serena and Venus Williams’ father, Richard Williams, in King Richard.
Also in the mix is Denzel Washington for his role in The Tragedy of Macbeth. Nominated for the 10th time, Washington is still a long shot with +1800 odds and may have to wait at least another year for his third Oscar.
| Nominee | Film | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Will Smith | King Richard | -330 |
| Javier Bardem | Being the Ricardos | +200 |
| Benedict Cumberbatch | The Power of the Dog | +350 |
| Andrew Garfield | tick, tick…BOOM! | +400 |
| Denzel Washington | The Tragedy of Macbeth | +1800 |
2022 Oscar Nominees: Best Actress
One of the most intensely competitive categories at this year’s Academy Awards, the Best Actress nominees include three female industry veterans: Nicole Kidman, Kristen Stewart, and Penelope Cruz. Ahead of the official nominations, Lady Gaga was at +250 odds but didn’t make the final cut, which influenced the odds among the final five candidates.
While Kidman is a slight favorite, for now, Stewart’s powerful portrayal of Princess Diana in Spencer should not be underestimated. Jessica Chastain also has an outside shot at winning while Cruz is deemed to be a long shot.
| Nominee | Film | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Nicole Kidman | Being the Ricardos | +120 |
| Kristen Stewart | Spencer | +175 |
| Olivia Colman | The Lost Daughter | +450 |
| Jessica Chastain | The Eyes of Tammy Faye | +500 |
| Penélope Cruz | Parallel Mothers | +1400 |
2022 Oscar Nominees: Best Director
The far and away most well-known contender as Best Director is Steven Spielberg, but he certainly isn’t the heavy betting favorite. That honor belongs to Jane Campion for her masterpiece The Power of the Dog.
If Campion wins, it would be the second year in a row for a woman to win Best Director and the third win overall. Kathryn Bigelow won for The Hurt Locker in 2009. Chloe Zhao followed with a win for Nomadland in 2021.
| Nominee | Film | Odds |
|---|---|---|
| Jane Campion | The Power of the Dog | -750 |
| Steven Spielberg | West Side Story | +800 |
| Kenneth Branagh | Belfast | +900 |
| Ryusuke Hamaguchi | Drive My Car | +1200 |
| Paul Thomas Anderson | Licorice Pizza | +1600 |
2022 Oscar Nominees: Best Picture
In the Best Picture category, Campion’s The Power of the Dog became the betting favorite once the final 10 nominations were announced. The film moved from +100 to -155 odds, and it seems to be a close race with Belfast, which is listed in second place with +200.
West Side Story dropped from +300 to +600 odds. Also among the nominees are the special effect-heavy remake of Dune (+1600) and King Richard (+2000).
| Nominee | Odds |
|---|---|
| The Power of the Dog | -155 |
| Belfast | +200 |
| West Side Story | +600 |
| Dune | +1600 |
| Licorice Pizza | +1600 |
| King Richard | +2000 |
| CODA | +2000 |
| Drive My Car | +2500 |
| Don’t Look Up | +3500 |
| Nightmare Alley | +4000 |
The 94th Academy Awards ceremony, presented by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, will take place on Sunday, March 27, 2022, in the Dolby Theatre in Los Angeles.
